Emerging star Cooper Connolly had to overcome cramps which sent his body into shock as he peeled off a majestic maiden international century to pilot Australia to a gripping one-wicket win over Bangladesh in the third. final ODI.
Connolly smashed 149 off 133 deliveries - the equal 27th highest score by an Australian in ODIs - at a hot. humid Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday, as the tourists edged past Bangladesh's 274 for 5 with three deliveries to spare, thus avoiding a 3-0 series whitewash.
Connolly, whose previous highest score was 61 not out in ODIs. 64 in all List-A games, hit 13 fours and six sixes.The next highest Australian score was Marnus Labuschagne's 29.
"Tough towards the end," he admitted. "I felt like my body was all in shock and not wanting to move. But it was nice to play a role in a win for Australia.
"The enjoyment of playing for Australia. batting out in the middle is always something that's exciting and to spend a bit of time out there was nice."
After cruising at 266 for 5. the Aussies suffered a 4 for 5 collapse to crash to 271 for 9, before Adam Zampa raised victory when he drove Taskin Ahmed through the covers for four.
Recalled left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam (6 for 48) was the chief destroyer for the Tigers. could have been the match-winner - and had seven scalps - had Tanzid Hasan not grassed Zampa at wide slip.
Connolly watched the carnage from the other end. before departing in the 49th over - the ninth wicket to fall, with four runs required - playing on to Mustafizur Rahman.
"I was obviously a little disappointed in myself. I'd done all the hard work to get to that position," he said. "It would have been nice to carry your bat through the whole innings.
"I think there's always faith in whoever's out there - whether it's No.10. 11 - I'm always willing to back them in. The emotions were [I was] quite upset and disappointed in myself, but it was nice to get over the line."
Connolly and stand-in captain Josh Inglis set the tempo for the Aussies' chase by attacking Bangladesh's new-ball bowlers. That swashbuckling approach has served Connolly well so far across all formats in his still young career.
"Looking into it, ODI cricket is quite similar to how I play my red-ball cricket," he said. "I like to be aggressive and I like to score.
"That's the whole point of batting in the powerplay - you want to be aggressive and put guys under pressure."
Meanwhile, allrounder Cameron Green has been withdrawn from three-match T20I series that starts in Chattogram on Wednesday. Green was the only one of Australia's three-format players, who also plays in the IPL, to play in the six ODIs against Pakistan. Bangladesh with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head all being rested from the tour after the IPL.
Green has been allowed to fly home to rest. albeit Australia already have a seven-and-a-half week break scheduled following the third T20I on Sunday. The next assignment is a two-Test series against Bangladesh in Australia that starts in Darwin on August 13.
Australia have not named a replacement for Green with Nikhil Chaudhary already having been called in to replace Head.
Skipper Mitchell Marsh is expected to be fit for the series having arrived in Bangladesh after missing the two ODI series due to an ankle issue.
Australia squad for T20Is in Bangladesh Mitchell Marsh (capt). Xavier Bartlett, Nikhil Chaudhary, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Adam Zampa
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